Based on
A Litany of Remembrance – We Remember Them
by Rabbi Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer, from Gates of Prayer: A New Union Prayerbook, copyright © 1975 by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. Used by permission of the CCAR. All rights reserved.

 In the rising of the sun and in its going down,
we remember them.
Temple David is 1,592 miles from the Robb Elementary School
in Uvalde, Texas.
It is a 23 hour and 56 minute drive;
4 minutes shy of a full day.
They live in Central Daylight time.
Approximately 73% of the residents of the county are Hispanic.
It’s population as of 2020 was 16,122.
Whatever the population on Monday morning,
we would have to subtract 21, now 22.

They are so far away and in ways so different
yet they are us.

On Tuesday morning, parents made breakfast
and teachers got into school early,
all with backpacks and briefcases
thinking it was just another Tuesday.
In Uvalde, parents love their children like we do
and sometimes yell at them to clean up their rooms
and try to hug them even when they don’t want to be hugged.
I wonder if their parents still put the nightlights on
in their empty bedrooms.
When their siblings ask where they are,
I wonder what possible answer could make sense
for even the truth – especially the truth – does not.

 And they are us because we know what it is like
when someone enters a space
with the intent to take as many lives as possible.

In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter,
we remember them.
The chill of winter might not be felt often in southern Texas,
but from California to the New York island
from the redwood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
we are all mourners.
Al kol Yisrael, v’al kol yoshvei tevel…

In the opening of buds and in the rebirth of spring,
we remember them.
In a year’s time, having been through the “firsts”
which right now is so far away,
may it be that the tear, like that of the keriah ribbon,
begins to be stitched together,
one stitch of healing at a time,
never to be whole again
but able to hold together.

In the blueness of the sky and in the warmth of summer,
we remember them.
The children’s biggest hurts should have been scratches from the playground
under a hot Texas sun,
not bullets.
Their families’ plans should have been about the long weekend
and summer vacation,
not about funerals.
The teachers should have been looking toward summer break
with their own families.

In the rustling of leaves and in the beauty of autumn,
we remember them.
As school begins again in the fall,
may these 19 children
take our hands and guide us
as we attend school board meetings,
get involved in our educational system
and make our voices heard during elections.

May these two teachers remind us
how to live in the world
by giving of ourselves
and investing our time, skills and passion
into the next generation.

 In the beginning of the year and when it ends,
we remember them.
For if we don’t, history will repeat itself.
For if we don’t, we will demonstrate
that we do not know what it means to be an American or a Jew.
For it we don’t, we cannot say we were created in God’s image.

 When we are weary and in need of strength,
we remember them.
Because they were young and full of energy and potential
and we are the ones left behind,
alive but broken,
older and maybe more pessimistic
but able to summon the strength we have to put our values into action.

When we are lost and sick at heart,
we remember them.
For that is where we are.  We are lost.
Our country has lost its way when children are attacked again and nothing has changed.
We are sick at heart as we learn that a teacher’s husband’s heart literally broke
and now their children are orphans.

 When we have joys we yearn to share,
we remember them.
Let us bring forward their memories by living life to the fullest
and by helping others do the same.

 So long as we live, they too shall live, for they are now a part of us, as we remember them:
Eva Mireles, 44
Irma Garcia, 48
Xavier Lopez, 10
Jose Flores, 10
Nevaeh Bravo, 10
Ellie Garcia, 9
Tess Mata, 10
Alexandria “Lexi” Rubio, 10
Jacklyn Cazares, 9
Jailah Nicole Silguero, 10
Jayce Luevanos, 10
Miranda Mathis, 11
Amerie Jo Garza, 10
Makenna Lee Elrod, 10
Layla Salazar, 10
Maite Rodriguez, 10
Annabell Rodriguez, 10
Eliahana Cruz Torres, 10
Rojelio Torres, 10
Alithia Ramirez, 10
Uziyah Garcia, 10
May their memories be blessings.